Numbering head



A. H. SMITH NUMBERING HEAD n Filed oct. y,28 1922 l es A f' I M N V ENTOR A TTOR NE Patented ug. 5, 19249 PKC@ AIVIOS H. SMITH, OF BROOKLYN,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANK NOTE Gor/LPANY, ornnw Yoan, N; Y.,

A CORPORATION OIF NEW YORK,

Y NL'UIVEBERNG HEAD'. i f

Application filed October 28, 1922. Serial No. 597,442.

To @ZZ whom t may cocinera:

Be it known that I, Anios H.. SMITH, a citizen of the United States,residing at the borough of Brooklyn, in the city oft' New York, countyot Kings5'and` State 'oi New York, have invented. certain new and usefulImprovements in Numbering Heads, of which the following is aspecification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings,`which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to numbering heads, andemore particularly-toAnumbering heads of the type in which the digit wheels are pawl. Y

Heretotore in this type oit' numbering head, it has been the commonpractice to actuate the swing frame carrying the comb pawl by means4 ofa depressible plunger adapted to engage the blanket of the impressionc-ylinder and be depressed against the tension of springs acting onvsaid plunger as aV result of this engagement. The downward movement ofsaid' plunger sets the pawl, so that immediately upon leaving theimpression cylinder the springs operative upon the plunger will restoreit toits normal position, and, in so doing-will actuate the swing trameand the comb pawl carried thereby in a manner to.turn. the digit wheelor digit wheels which with any particular set of the machine arerequired to be turned with that actuationv thereof.

The old and` well known construction above referred to has'thedisadvantages that t-he actuation ot the digit wheels is solely underspring power, the sp 'ings themselves beingA subjected toV frequent andrapid compressions so that they Awere often broken and defective workproduced causing a waste of material and labor; that the inking rollershad tol be cut awa-y so as to prevent the actuation of the numberinglhead as a re1- sult of the engagement of the plunger therewith; thatwear upon the impression cylinder blanket was excessive at. ther pointof engagement between same'vand the plungers andV the various numberingheads; and that the numbering heads could not be so set as to preventthe' progressive actuation ot rooressivel actuated b1 means of a comb Pe Y 3 the digit wheels in case it were desired to repeat any number orgroup of numbers'.

In a machine embodying my invention the swing frame is actuated by amember which is at all times positioned below the printing piane of thecharacters upon the digit wheels, and is adapted to be actuated by astriker operative thereon between the point of engagement of the digitwheels with the impression cylinder and the inking mechanism, engagementof said striker with said, actuating member resulting in a positiveturning movement of one or` more digit wheels according to the set oithe head.l By thus utilizing a positive movement in actuating the digitwheels, the return movement oi' said actuating member may be under thecontrol of a springof fairly light tension, since no work beyondy theresetting of the swing trame and its comb pawl is required upon thereturn movement of. the' actuating member.

The actuating member is so constructed as to minimize the speed at whichthe digit wheel or wheels are turned, although the movement under allcircumstances is rapid, a condition present in alle progressivelyactuated numbering heads. y

I also provide the numbering head enibodying my invention with meansoperative upon. the actuating` member whereby said member may be movedand maintained out of the operative relation to the striker, thuspermitting a continued actuation. of the numbering machine using thehead, without progressive actuation. of the digit wheel.

if desired. a locking pawl may be used upon each wheel of a denominationhigher thanrthe units wheel, so as to prevent the turning ot' any digitwheel except when the digit wheel of next lower denomination has thedigit 9 in the printing position.

The invention consists primarily in a numbering head embodying therein amain frame, a fixed` shaft therein, a sequence of independentlyrotatable digit wheels mounted upon said shaft, a ratchet wheel carriedby each of said digi-t wheels, they ratchet wheels ot the digit wheelsof lower denomination having a recess therein, a swing frame mounted insaid main frame, a comb pawl carried by said swing frame, the teeth ofwhich are of graduated decreasing heights from the units digit wheeltoward the wheels cf successively higher denomination, actuating meansoperative upon said swing frame including therein an oscillatory memberpositioned in-its entirety belowV the printing plane of the charactersupon said digit wheels, operative connections between same and saidswing frame, and a spring acting thereon, the teeth upon said ratchetwheel co--operating with a pawl being so set as to cause movement of thewheel co-operating therewith with move'- ment of said member against thetension of said lspring and to cause the upon said teeth with the"actuation of said member by said spring; and in such other novelfeatures of construction and combination of parts as are hereinafter setforth andV described, and more particularly pointed out in the claimshereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. l is a plan-view of a'numbering head embodying my invention; 4

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof from 'the right of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--3 of F l; Y

Fig. 4; is a section on the Fig. 1; Y

Fig. 5 is an end view showing the setting` means for the digit wheelactuating mechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the digit wheels illustrating thelocking mechanism therefor.

Like letters refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, the main frameof the inachinc a is provided with rside plates a and a2 extendingbetween which is a shaft b having idly mounted thereon a plurality ofdigit wheels c, c', c2, 03, c4 and c5 rotatable independently one of theother. It is a common practice in numbering heads of this line lf-l ofcharacter to also provide character wheels which are not actuated by themechanisms actuating some of the digit wheels, but are neverthelessrotatable in order to permit the use o f the different charactersthereon, or differentV groupings of such characters iii the event that aplurality of such wheels are used. The character wheels are indicated atd-Z respectively.

Each of the wheels c to c5 and cZ-al is provided upon one side thereofwith a ratcliet wheel permanently secured thereto in any desiredV mannerso as to be rotatable therewith, the ratchet wheels upon the respectivedigit land character wheels being indicated at c, c', c2, c3, et, c5, e6and e7. These ratchet wheels are adapted to'be engaged by pawls pawl toride such movement, and inthe Vevent ofa slight excess or insuificientmovement thereof, to impart slight movement thereto Vin whicheverdirection mayv abe necessary to ensure proper aliiienient of the'various digits or characters. This general arrangementV and combinationof parts is old and well known in this art, but is referred to merely asbeing to which my invention relates.

Idly mounted upon the shaft al is a swing frame g, the opposite armsofwhich are positioned between the end plates c45-a2 respectively andthe units* digit wheel 0 and the character lwheel d. VPivoted in thischaracteristic of the type of numbering head swing frame and srinoressed towards the CD D variousratchet wheels, is a comb pawl g ofthe usual construction, which includes ak sequence of teeth, the firstof which is adapted to engagerthe ratchetrwheel connected with the unitsdigit wheel, and the rest of which are of graduated, decreasing heightsso as to be inoperative with relation to the ratchet teeth upon thesucceeding digit` wheels except when a transfer voperation is requiredwith regardto the particular wheel with which each tooth adapted toco-oper- Y ate. f Y

Each ratchet wheel has a recess as e8 adjacent one of the teeth, whichis adapted to be engaged by the co-operatiiig tooth of the comb pawl,when they digit 9 is in the printing position so as to permit the pawlto move towards the shaft and bring other teeth thereof into engagementwith the ratchet wheel of the adjacent Vdigit wheel or wheels. f

One hub of the swing frameY g has formed thereon a segmental gear t inconstant mesh with a segmental gear z' carried by a shaft y' pivoted inthe side frame a. This shaft j has keyed or otherwise secured thereto acrank arm /hhaving an impact member 7c', preferably an antifrictionroller, adapted to engage a. striker member forming a part ofV thenumbering machine upon which the numberiiig head is adapted to bemounted. This crank arm is acted upon by a spring m of light tensionwhich normally thrusts it towards the top'of theV end plate a until theoperative relation of the gears h and z' will have the effect oflimiting the movement of the crank and its shaft under the control ofsaid spring in a position where the crank .lo and the impact member lacarthe impression cylinder, and the inking roll ers, of the numberingmachine.

The teeth of the various ratchet wheels are so setthatwhen the swingframe g is in the position shown in the several views of the drawingswith thecrank r in the uppermost position, the comb pawl will engage atooth of at least one of the ratchet wheels so -that upon the nextactuation of the crank 7c, the digit wheel carrying the 'ratchet thusengaged will receive a onetenth revolution while power isV being ap``plied directly to said crank arm by the striker member, and while saidSpring is restoring said crank lc to its normal position to impart areturn oscillatory movement to the swing frame g, said pawl will rideidly over the succeeding tooth of said ratchet wheel and come into aposition engaging same preparatory to the next feeding movement. In thismanner a positive actuation of the various digit wheels is assured andthe sole function of the spring fm is a restoring action, t-huspermitting uniformity in the action ofV said spring irrespective of thenumber of digit wheels which are to be turned with the actuation of theswing frame. As a result, a spring mof light tension may be used.

' Under some conditions it is desirable to use numbering heads withoutprogressively said mechanisms. This means in the form.

of the invention shown, consists of a lever fn, pivotally mounted at oneend of the side plate d having thereon a bolt o adapted to enter asocket p formed in the perimeter of the segmental gear i.

In numbering heads of the type in which the digit wheels are actuated bya comb pawl, there is always a ytendency of adjacent digit wheels toadhere together as a result of accumulation and drying of ink betweensame, to correct which condition I have heretofore produced heads ofthis type in which each digit wheel is positively locked againstrotation until the wheel of next lower de nomination has thedigit 9 inthe printing position.

In a numbering head embodying my present invention, I combine with theother characteristics of the mechanism, such a locking Y means, althoughper se this locking means is old in this art. It may, however, beadvantageous to comb-ine it with the other characteristics 'of thenumbering head, and when it is so combined it imparts desirablecharacteristics to the head, particularly as with a slow actuatingmovement ofthe comb pawl under positive power, the likelihood of theaccidental turning of digit wheels is greater than with the quick snapaction of springs, which latter would have Va greater tendency to breakan ink bond than would the slower movement resulting from the actuatingmechanism employed in my present construction of numbering head.

The locking mechanism shown in the acconipanying drawings consists of asequence of sockets g formed in the perimeter of all digit wheels abovethe units digit wheel and between the characters thereon, and acooperating lever g associated with each digit wheel and having anangular head adapted to enter such sockets respectively. These leversare pivoted on a fixed shaft r adjacent the bottom of the head and eachlever is acted upon by a spring, indicated at g2, and has a short arm orheel g3 operatively engaging a cam shaft s.' An actuating handle s issecured to the shaft s for imparting a turning movement thereto so thatall of the locking levers may if desired, be simultaneously disengagedfrom the digit wheels with which they respectively cooperate, to permitthe hand setting of the various digit wheels.

Each of the digit wheels, excepting the last of the sequence, andincluding the units wheel, has on one face thereof, opposite to that towhich the ratchet wheel is secured, a cam groove indicated at t in F ig.6, which groove is positioned outside the ratchet wheel of the adjacentwheel, and has a single rise and fall t so located that it will be inits operative position when the digit 9 of the wheel having the camgroove therein is in the printing posi-tion.

Each locking lever Q is provided with a thin bracket u entering thespace between ICO the peripheries of adjacent digit wheels and icarrying asmall stud u entering the cani groove t of the wheel of nextlower denomination.

The` operation of the herein described numbering head is substantiallyas follows Ordinarily a plurality of groups of numbering heads, 4asherein described, are mounted upon the numbering head cylinder of anumbering machine, such machines being so constructed as to permitadjustment of such heads circumferentially as well as longitudinally ofsaid cylinder. It is because of this frequent adjustment of heads thatthe location of the crank 7c and its impact member la below the printingplane of the characters upon the various digit wheels and in a positionwhere they cannot engage the impression cylinder and the inking rollers,is ot' primary importance. When the above conditions exist, adjustmentof the numbering heads will lnot re quire new inking rollers, and allportions of the blanket of the impression cylinder will be in :icondition to permit the desired printing pressure at any point of theimpression cylinder due to the fact that some portions ot the blanketare not subjected ythe dii'iierent lgroups of heads also being differentaccording to tho number of iin-` pressions to be made oneach sheet andthe contemplated length of a run.

Y During the operation oi" the machine, the functioning of eachnumbering head will be identical with that of every other, so that thedetailed operation of but one head will be described. The printingcharacters upon each digit wheel are first inked and then brought intoprint-ing relation to thev impression cylinder. After an impression hasbeen made, the continued rotation of the cylinder carrying the headbrings the im` pact member 7; into engagement with a striker member onthe machine so as to however, that the impact member 7c moves out ofengagen'ient with said striker member, the spring m will impart a returnmovement to the crank 7c and, through the gears .it and 'fl and theshaft j, to the swing frame Q, the comb pawl g during such returnoscillation ol' the swing frame as aV result ot the action of saidspring, riding idly over the next tooth of the ratchet wheel e, buthaving no operative eifect upon the digit wheel c. Y

Upon the completion of this return n1ovement of the swing frame g andits pawl g',

Vprinting position, .the highest tooth of the comb pawl g will drop intothe recess-cas of the units digit wheel ratchet wheel, thus permittingthe next higher tooth to engage theratchet e of the tens wheel. Duringthe next revolution of the numbering head, since one tooth of the combpawl enga-ges one of'the teeth of the ratchet wheel e,

and another toothengages one ot vthe teeth` or'` the ratchet wheel e,the. movement ot the swing' frame as a result ofthe d'epresu sion of thecrank 7c will turn both wheels simultaneously one-tenth of a-revolutionin the manner above described. When both the units and tens wheels havethe digit 9 in the printing positiointlie adjacent tooth will be broughtinto engagement with the .ratchet wheel c2, this relation being extend'-ed progressively to all wheels'oif higher denomination which are adaptedto be actuatedby the comb pawl. All wheels not directly engaged by atooth of thecoinb pawl remain idle. l

Owing to the fact that the number of sheets printed during a run of thenumbering head during a day is never great, it is the common practice toprovide for the automatic actuation ofbut four or five of the digitwheels, it being feasible to setthe hundred thousandth wheel, andsometimes the ten thousandth wheel, by hand.

lVhenever the digit 9 comes to theprint ing position, the rise t of thecam t formed in said wheel will, through the stud a and bracket il.,disengage the locking lever Q from the wheel of next higherdenomination, thus permitting the free rotation or' this wheel upon thenext actuation of the numbering head, said locking lever or pawlimmediatelyreengaging theV socket y of its wheel upon the comple-V thelockingv mechanism operative upon aV digit wheel, between the digitwheel thus released, and the units digit wheel, is set. The arrangementof the gears h and will ico liti

cause them to lock in a manner to check return reciprocatory movement ofthe crank cunder the control ofthe spring m in a manner to limit theupward movement of said crank and keep it below the printing plane ofthe digit wheels.

Since the various detent pawls f to f7 will have the usual function insecuring alinement of the digit wheels of the numbering head, a detaileddescription thereof is therefore unnecessary.

If it be desired to prevent the automatic actuation of any of theV digitwheels, it is merely necessary to depress the crank 7c and engage thebolt 0 with the socket p in the gear c', thus holding the impact member7c out of the operative relation to the striker member of the numberingmachine, and preventing` a return movement of the crank 7c under thecontrol of the springm, and a resultantY return movement of the swingframe. It is apparent that novexactitude is required'in the relation ofthe bolt o and the socket p, since if'theseparts prevent a full returnmovement of the crank ZJ, slight oscillatory movement may be` impartedthereto rby the striker without having any oper ative effect upon thedigit wheels.

Vhile the wheels cZ-CZ are not subject to change during the operation ofthe head, I preferably extend the locking mechanism to these disks aswell as the detent pawl mechanism, since the accidental operation ofthese disks is to be avoided and structural uniformity throughout Vthehead `is desirable.

Since the crank 7e acts at long leverage upon the shaft j, it isapparent that the movement of the-swingframe g `willbe very much slowerthan though strong. springs were used, and thatthe slowing down of themovement of the digit wheels will have a very strong tendency tominimize likelihood of overrunning of the wheels. Furthermore, by thispositive operation of the swing frame and the actuating mechanism there#for, likelihood of a failure of the actuating mechanism to function isVpractically eliminated, and thus inconveniences resulting from theaccidental breakage of springs in heads as heretofore used, is obviated.

Since the spring m always has the same load, irrespective `of the numberof digit wheels whichare to be turned, this spring may be made Voffairly light tension, particularly as it has little work to do. Alldigit wheels will be actuated under exactly the samepconditionsirrespective of the num# ber of wheels to be turned, since the powerfor' turning these wheels is derived from the main source of power ofthenumbering machine andl not from the energy of a spring or springscarried by the numbering head itself;v

, It is not my intention to limit the in-' ventionf-to` thepre'cisedet'ails of construc` tion shown in the accompanying drawings,it being apparent that such may bc varied without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to haveprotected by Letters Patent, is

l. A numbering head embodying therein a main frame, a xed shaft therein,a sequence of independently rotatable digit wheels mounted upon saidshaft, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said digit wheels the ratchetwheels of the digit wheels of lower denomination having a recesstherein, aswing frame mounted in said main frame, a comb pawl carried bysaid swing frame, the teeth of which are of graduated decreasing heightsfrom the units digit wheel toward the wheels of successively higherdenomination, actuating means operative upon said swing frame includingtherein an oscillatory member positioned in its entirety be-v low theprintingplane of the characters upon said digit wheels, operativeconnections between same and said swing frame, and a spring actingthereon, the teeth upon said ratchet wheel co-operating` with a pawlbeing so set as to cause' movement ofV the wheel co`operating therewithwith movement of sai'd member against the tension of said spring and tocause the pawl to ride upon said teeth with the actuation of said memberby said spring.

2. A. numbering head embodying therein a main fra-me, a fixed shafttherein, a sequence of independently rotatable digit wheels mounted uponsaid shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said digit wheels, theratchet wheels of thedigit wheels of lower denomination having a recessAtherein, a swing frame mounted in said main frame, a comb pawl carriedby said swing frame, the teeth of which are of graduated decreasingheights from the units digit wheel toward the wheels of successivelyhigher denomination, actuating means operative upon said swing frameincluding therein `an oscillatory member -positioned in its entiretybelow the printing` plane ofthe characters upon said digit wheels, ashaft carrying said oscillatory member, intermesh'ing segmental gearscarried by said shaft and said swing frame respectively, and a springacting upon said oscillatory member, the teeth upon said ratchet wheelcio-operating with a pawl being so set as to cause movement of the wheelco-operating therewith with movement of said member aga-inst lhe tensionof said spring and to cause the pawl to ride upon said teeth with theactuation of said member by said spring. y

3. A numbering head embodying therein a main frame, a fixed shafttherein, a sequence of independently rotatable4 digit Awheels mountedupon said shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said digit wheels,the

ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of lower denomination having a recesstherein, a swing frame mounted in said main frame, a comb pawl carriedby said swing frame, the teeth of which are of graduated decreasingheights from the units digit wheel toward the wheels of successivelyhigher denomina-- tion, actuating means operative upon said swing frameincluding therein an oscillatory member positioned in its entirety belowthe printing plane of the characters upon said digit wheels, operativeconnections between same and said swing frame, a springV acting thereon,the teeth upon said ratchet wheel co-operating with a pawl being so setas to cause movement ofthe wheel co-operating therewith with movement ofsaid member against the tension of said spring and to cause the pawl toride upon said teeth with the actuation of said member by said spring,and means whereby said oscillatory member VIrfay be held againstmovement under the control of said spring.

4. A numbering head embodying therein a main frame, a fixed shafttherein, a sequence of independently rotatable digit wheels mounteduponsaid shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said digit wheels, theratchet wheels of the digit wheels of Vlower denomination having a`recess therein, a swing frame mounted in said main frame, a comb pawlcarried by said swing frame, the'teeth of which are of graduateddecreasing heights from the units digit wheel toward the wheels ofsuccessively higher denomination, actuating means operative upon saidswing vframe including therein an oscillatory member positioned initsentirety below the printing plane of the characters upon said digitwheels, a shaft carrying said oscillatory member, intermeshing segmentalgears carried by said shaft and said swing frame respectively, a springacting upon said oscillatory member, the teeth upon said ratchet wheelco-operating with a pawl being so setas to cause movementV of the wheelco-operating therewith with move- Y ment of said member against thetension of Y said spring and to cause the pawl to ride upon said teethwith the actuation Aof said member by said spring, and means wherebysaid oscillatory member may be held against movement under the controlof said spring.

5. A numbering head'embodying therein a main frame, a Yfixed shafttherein, a seque'ncek of independently rotatable digit wheels mountedupon said shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said digit wheels,the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of lower denomination having arecess therein, a swing frame mounted in said main frame, a comb pawlcarried by said swing frame, the teeth of which are of graduateddecreasing heights from the units Ydigit wheel toward thev wheels ofsuccessively higher denomination, actuating means operative upon saidswing frame including therein an oscillatory member positioned in itsentirety below the printing plane of the characters upon said digitwheels, a shaft carrying said oscillatory member, intermeshing segmentalgears carried by said shaftand said swing frame respectively, a springacting upon' said oscillatory member, the teeth upon said ratchet wheelco-operating with a pawl being so set as to cause movement of the wheelco-operating therewith with movement of said member against the tensionof said spring and to cause the pawl to ride upon said teeth with theactuation of said member by said spring, the segmental gear carried' bythe shaft to which said oscillatory member is attached having a sockettherein, and a lever pivotally connected with the frame of the machineand having a bolt adapted to enter said socket when said member isdepressed, whereby a return movement of said member under the control ofsaid spring is prevented. Y

6. A numbering head embodying therein a main frame, a fixed shafttherein, a sequence of independentlyv rotatable digit wheels mountedupon said shaft, a locking member operative upon each wheel'of a dennomination higher than the units wheel, cooperating members carried byeach of said locking members and the :wheel of next lower denominationthan that upon which it is operative, whereby when the digit 9'of saidwheel of lower denomination is inthe printing position, said lockingmember will be disengaged from its digit wheel, a ratchet wheel carriedby each of said digit wheels, the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels oflower' denomination having a recess therein, a swing frame mounted insaid main frame, a comb pawl carried bysaid swing frame, the teeth ofwhich are of graduated decreasing heights from the units digit wheeltoward the wheels of successively higher denomination, actuating meansoperative upon said swing frame including therein an oscillatory memberpositioned in its entirety below the printing plane ofthe charactersupon said digit wheels, operative connections between sameand'saidrswiug frame,

and a'spring acting thereon, the teeth upon said ratchet wheelco-operating with a pawl being so set as to cause movement ofthe wheelco-operating ytherewith withA movement-of said memberv against thetension of said spring and to cause the pawl to ride upon said teethVwith the `actuation of said member by said spring.

7.A numbering head embodying therein a main frame, a tiXed shafttherein,a-se quence of independently rotatable digit wheels mounted uponsaid shaft,a locking member operative upon each wheel of a de-`nomination higher than the units wheel, cooperating members carried byeach of said locking members and the wheel of next low er denominationthan that uipon which it is operative, whereby when the digit 9 of saidwheel of loweiiI denomination is in the printing position, said lockingmember will be disengaged from its digit wheel, manually operative meanswhereby all of said locking members may be simultaneouslymadeinoperative with relation to their respect-ive digit wheels to permithand setting of said wheels, a ratchet wheel carried by each of saiddigit wheels, the ratchet wheels of the digit wheels of lowerdenomination having a recess therein, a swing frame mounted in said mainframe, a comb pawl carried by said swing` frame, the teeth of which areof graduated decreasing heights from the units digit wheel toward thewheels of successively higher denomination, actuating means operativeupon said swing frame including therein an oscillatory member positionedin its entirety below the printing planev of the characters upon saiddigit wheels, operative connections between same and said swing frame,and a spring acting thereon, the teeth upon said ratchet wheel cooperating with a pawl being so set as to cause movement of the wheelco-operating therewith with movement of said member against the tensionof said spring and to cause the pawl to ride upon said teeth with theactuation of said member by said spring.

S. A numbering head embodying therein a main frame, a fixed shaftltherein, a sequence of independently rotatable digit wheels mounted uponsaid shaft, a locking member operative upon each wheel of a denominationhigher than the units wheel, cooperating members ca-rried by each ofsaid locking members and the wheel of next lower demnomination than thatupon which it is operative, whereby when the digit 9 of said wheel oflower denomination is in the printing position, said locking member willbe disengaged from its digit wheel, manually operative means whereby allof said locking members may be simultaneously made inoperative withrelation to their respective digit wheels to permit hand setting of saidwheels, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said digit wheels, theratchet wheels ofthe digit wheels of lower denomination having a recesstherein, a swing frame mounted in said main frame, a comb pawl carriedby said swing frame, the teeth of which are of graduated decreasingheights from the units digit wheel toward the wheels of successivelyhigher denomination, actuating means operative upon said swing frameincluding therein an oscillatory member positioned in its entirety belowthe printing plane of the characters `upon said digit wheels, operativeconnections between same and said swing frame, a spring acting`theretrol of said spring.

9. A numbering head embodying therein a main frame, a fixed shafttherein, a sequence of independently rotatable digit wheels mounted uponsaid shaft, a ratchet wheel carried by each of said digit wheels1 theratchet wheels of the digit wheels of lower denomination having a recesstherein, detent pawls operative upon said ratchet wheels respectively, aswing frame mounted in said main frame, a comb pawl carried by saidswing frame, the teeth of which are of graduated decreasing heights fromthe units digit wheel toward the wheels of successively higherdenomination, actuating means operative upon said swing frame includingtherein an oscillatory member positioned in its entirety below theprinting )lan-e of the characters upon said digit wheels, operativeconnections between same and said swing frame, and a spring actingthereon, the teeth upon said ratchet wheel (3o-operating with a pawlbeing so set as to cause movement of the wheel co-operating therewithwith movement of said member against the tension of said spring and tocause the pawl to ride upon said teeth with the actuation of said memberby said spring.

10. A numbering head embodying therein a main frame, a fixed shafttherein, a sequence of independently rotatable digit wheels mounted uponsaid shaft, a locking member operative upon each wheel of a denominationhigher than the units wheel, cooperating members carried by each of saidlocking members and the wheel of next lower denomination than that uponwhich it is operative, whereby when the digit 9 of said wheel of lowerdenomination is in the printing position, said locking member will bedisengaged from its digit wheel, manually operative means whereby all ofsaid locking members may be simultaneously made inoperative withrelation to their respective digit wheels to permit hand setting of saidwheels.I a ratchet wheel carried by each of said digit wheels, theratchet wheels of the digit wheels of lower denomination having a recess therein, detent pawls operative upon said ratchet wheelsrespectively, a swing frame mounted in said main frame, a comb pawlcarried by said swing frame, the teeth of which are of graduateddecreasing` heights from the units digit wheel toward the wheels ofsuccessively higher denomination, actuating means operative upon said`swing frame including therein an oscillatory member positioned in itsentirety below the printing` plane of the characters upon said digitwheels, operative connections between same and said swing frame, aspring acting thereon, the teeth upon said ratchet wheel co-operatingwith a pawl being so set as to cause movement of the vwheel cooperatingtherewith with movement of said member against the tension of saidspring and to cause the pawl to ride upon said teeth with the actuationof said member by said spring, and means whereby said oscillatorymember` may be held against movement under the 15 control of saidspring.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature, in the presenceof two sub scribing Witnesses, this 9th day of October.

AMOS H. SMITH.

Witnesses: Y

F. T. W'ENTwoRTH, FRIEDA Kommun.

